The measure targets around 2.5 million consumer units, with large homes, businesses and small services consuming more than 1,000 kWh per month
The National Electric Energy Agency () began studies to change the tariff structure applied to low voltage consumers and encourage migration to charging that varies according to the time of day, the so-called White Tariff. The measure targets around 2.5 million consumer units, with large homes, businesses and small services consuming more than 1,000 kWh per month.
The White Tariff for this group is already available, but adherence is considered insignificant: only 0.1% of the 75 million eligible consumer units opted for this structure, even with an average reduction of 4.8% in bills among those who signed up. Aneel is evaluating reversing the logic and making the tariff the standard model for this group of consumers with high consumption, maintaining the conventional tariff only for those below the proposed limit.
According to the Agency, the proposal seeks to adapt tariffs to the new reality of the Brazilian electricity system. Between 10 am and 2 pm, there is great availability of solar and wind energy, with low generation costs. Between 6 pm and 9 pm, when consumption reaches its peak and solar supply disappears, more expensive sources come into operation, increasing pressure on the system.
Today, those on the conventional tariff pay the same amount at any time of the day. In the White Tariff, the meter starts to record how much was consumed in each period, allowing these amounts to be charged differently. In this structure, 85% of the hours of the day, the “gray” hours, are discounted by approximately 14%. The “orange” and “red” hours, associated with greater demand, have a higher rate.
In practice, the change would allow consumers to reorganize the use of high-consumption equipment, such as pool pumps, electric vehicle chargers, air conditioning and larger machines, prioritizing cheaper times. Aneel emphasizes that bills may even rise if consumption remains concentrated during peak hours, but the objective is precisely to provide conditions for consumers to adjust their habits and capture discounts.
Migration
The study will also undergo Public Consultation, when representatives of society, distributors, experts and consumers will be able to contribute. After consolidating the suggestions, Aneel plans to define the final format of the change. The expectation is that implementation can occur as early as 2026, with a gradual transition as meters are replaced.
The initial proposal is for the transition to be compulsory, but the agency must discuss rules that allow the dynamic to exit after a period of testing. Thus, for consumers who consider that the model does not favor them, it would be possible to return to the current standard tariff.
For the change to occur, it will be necessary to replace current meters with models capable of recording consumption hour by hour. The exchange will be carried out by the distributors as part of their modernization cycles. The costs will be treated as a prudent investment and recognized in tariff reviews, which means that the transfer to the accounts will be diluted and will occur in the same way as with any equipment replaced by the concessionaires.
Aneel wants distributors to play an active role in providing guidance to consumers, explaining how the tariff works and how it is possible to obtain real benefits from reorganizing consumption. The agency assesses that the low adherence to the White Tariff is due more to a lack of information and inertial behavior than to resistance to the modality.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Nátaly Tenório
